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Kaunas “Žalgiris”, who has been radically renewed in the interseason, was left without one of the pillars, on which not only the game on the court was supported, but also the mood of the team.
In three years, Marius Grigonis had become one of the loudest voices in the wardrobe, where he had been in the hands of Captain Paulius Jankūnas and Artūras Milaknis for several years.
“Now that the work is more productive, there is no more fuss that Grigonis caused,” Milaknis told the BasketNews website about Grigonis’ voice, which was no longer being heard in the locker room. “Now he’s probably making a fuss in Moscow.”
After Grigonis left, “Žalgiris” also said goodbye to two more Lithuanians, Rokas Jokubaitis and Martin Geben, and during the offseason he regained green-white to the bone marrow: Edgars Ulanovs and Mantas Kalnietis.
The Lithuanian national team player, who returned five years later, found Jankūnas where he said goodbye to him in 2016, and will return to play alongside Milaknis in Žalgiris for the first time since 2011-2012. season.
In the national team, this trio in 2015. won silver at the European Championship.
At that time, Milaknis met Ulanov again after a one-year break, when Žalgiris in 2020-2021. defended the honor of Fenerbahche Istanbul in the season.
“One of the great Lithuanians (Marius Grigonis – aut. Past) left us, so it’s good that the other two have returned,” Milaknis told the BasketNews website. – Mantas has not been seen or heard for many years. It’s always been fun in the locker room, but now it’s even more fun in it. I’m glad he’s back and I have no doubt that both the LKL and the Euroleague will help him. “
Both newly returned basketball players soon found their place in the locker room, and Milaknis and Jankūnas welcomed their friend Kalnietis alongside him, in the left corner of the locker room.
Excluding 2007-2008 The Euroleague would play 5 minutes in two games, with 35-year-old Milaknis playing in the strongest tournament on the Old Continent for the twelfth year.
Last season, the sniper was stopped with a groin injury, but, as the basketball player assured BasketNews, he managed to cure health problems in the summer and prepare for 2021-2022. struggles to move healthily.
– Blankets Kalnietis settled in the corner of the locker room near you and Paulius Jankūnas. Mantas was immediately admitted to the locker room council or will a transition period be needed?
– I don’t know, you have to ask the captain (smiles). Well, we are all the same and there is no corner. Everyone can have an opinion, but of course we will make a decision (laughs). All is well in Manto, there is no need to do anything extra.
“There is no more loud voice in the wardrobe,” Grigonis left. How strange is it now without that voice that kept the team spirits up?
– Now that the work is more productive, there is no more fuss that Grigonis caused (smiles). Now he’s probably making that fuss in Moscow. But all is well, some come out, some come. All outgoing messages will be missing, but the next ones will be added. This is the case every year in Žalgiris. As the saying goes, a good place will not be empty.
– Maris had such an unconventional debut in the CSKA Moscow team, playing with the miners team. Maybe you saw how he was and congratulated him?
– I haven’t had time yet, but it was a strange read. Knowing Mary, you must have been surprised to hear that such an encounter would take place (smiles). But what you are going to do is pay tribute to the sponsors and get nowhere, you have to play. We will definitely touch on this topic, I have no doubt.
– Rokas Jokubaitis, another now from Žalgiris, survived an eventful summer. How far were the curves of this young man traced?
– Glad to all who are called to the NBA Rookie Exchange. Whether you were immediately invited or brought to the NBA, it’s gratifying that, let’s say, part of the dream of being called up has come true. Of course, he hasn’t debated yet, but I think his time will come, he has a very good work ethic, he worked very well all year on “Žalgiris”, he put a lot into himself and now he deserves to be called. He is the blacksmith of his career, he moved to Barcelona, where he will probably try to achieve the second part of his dream: to enter the NBA. I think Coach Šarūnas (Jasikevičius – aut. Past) will definitely help him to achieve it.
– This young man, you could say, grew in your eyes. How do you remember Rokas walking “Žalgiris” one step after another?
– I remember when it first came. He was receptive to everything, made all the comments from the coaches and players, whether about the organization of the game or about the pitches. He was always receptive to these issues and actually had a very good work ethic. Many players from the second team arrived, but he was the only one who got hooked and left. The rock work ethic was perhaps more similar to Luke’s when he comes in and works twice as hard as everyone else. I think Rock will begin to reap the rewards of that work sooner or later.
– Regarding the composition of “Žalgiris”, there were seven newcomers to the team, two of whom, Mantas and Edgaras, returned to Kaunas. What did management manage to add to the movements made?
– We really added precision, many newcomers came with a launch from both further and closer. It will take some time for everything to become one body as we will stick together and play together. It will take a lot of work as there are quite a few newcomers and it takes time to get into the system. The sooner we enter, the sooner the result will arrive. Last year, everyone quickly caught on to the system, so the result was really good at first.
– Janis Strelnieks added to the defense chain. What is your impression of this player?
– Offensive defender who can offer a lot, and good picenroleand throws. I think the new player will definitely expand the field even more. In previous years, Žalgiris lacked more pitchers. Now it will be necessary to weigh the risks of the opponents, because all the people who throw can be in the field at the same time. It’s really funny that not only Janis, but also the people in third and fourth position are triples in a high percentage. The expansion of the field will automatically open large spaces for tall and players.
– Did you try to launch a series with a brother?
– It’s not that he can’t play sports at full capacity yet, he has a bit of that injury. We look forward to your return. There is a long season ahead, so we will all change again and again.
– Another famous “Žalgiris” purchase is Emmanuel Mudiay. How risky can this move be given the circumstances where a player has not played a year and will be put to the test for the first time in Europe?
– Hard to say. Everyone needs time, so does he. I think the coach spoke and really said what he expected from him, and understood what he could get from us at “Žalgiris”. There will definitely be one of the key players to complete the stuck attacks. It is good to have someone who is very strong in the individual, has good physical data, sees the square and can create for others. I think it’s a really good buy and to the extent that it benefits you will have to wait for the match and see how it fits into the schemes. I think a good selection has been made and he will really integrate perfectly into the team.
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